Millennials vs. Gen Z: Social Trends That Matter

Millennials walked so Gen Z could run. And now? Gen Z is sprinting laps around everyone else while Millennials are still curating their grids. Both generations are online 24/7, but they use social very differently. Here’s how to not mix them up.

Where They Hang Out

Gen Z = TikTok all day. Nearly 60% use it daily (Pew). It’s their Google, Netflix, and Sephora all rolled into one.

Millennials = Instagram and LinkedIn. They’ll still scroll Facebook for the baby pics, but IG is where they vibe and LinkedIn is where they flex.

What They Consume

Gen Z: Lo-fi, raw, chaotic in the best way. They’ll buy from a 19-year-old in a dorm room before they trust a glossy ad. Morning Consult backs it up—68% prefer relatable creators.

Millennials: Still love aspirational aesthetics, but want depth too. Long captions, brand storytelling, blog links—they’ll actually read them (between mortgage memes).

How They Trust (or Don’t)

Gen Z: Ruthless but forgiving. Mess up? They’ll cancel you by lunch. Own it? They’ll stan you by dinner. See Deloitte’s Gen Z survey.

Millennials: Loyalty runs deeper. If they grew up with you (Nike, Apple, Starbucks), you’re in their rotation for life—just don’t betray them.

Money Moves

Gen Z: $360B in disposable income (Bloomberg), and they spend fast when inspired.

Millennials: They’ll research 14 Amazon reviews before buying a $20 serum. Blame student loans.

⚡ The takeaway:

Gen Z is shaping culture. Millennials are shaping industries. If you want both, you can’t recycle the same playbook. Entertain and be radically transparent for Gen Z. Deliver value and credibility for Millennials. Nail the nuance—or lose the audience